Wednesday, 30 November 2016

This chart shows where the UK's search & rescue helicopters were deployed in the period July - September 2016, and you can see several dots in the Swanage area.

In all, we worked alongside the Coastguard helicopter 8 times in that period, plus a ninth occasion supporting the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

In October and November we were in action with the helicopter a further four times. Mostly, we get to see Rescue 106 flying from Portland, but we also work with Rescue 104 from Lee on Solent on occasions

Friday, 18 November 2016

A few years ago, HM Coastguard undertook a project to install location markers with grid references throughout the full 630-mile length of the South West Coast Path between Minehead and Studland.

The plaques were installed by the local teams and we did several in our patch, stretching from some at Durlston Country Park right the way through to the end of the path at Shell Bay (or the beginning, depending on which way you are going!)

Whilst on holiday in Cornwall last week, one of the team spotted some of the familiar signs in place near St Agnes.

Monday, 14 November 2016

This emergency beacon was washed up on Swanage beach a few back and handed into Swanage Police. They did some research to trace the owner , including contacting the Coastguard but sadly it was found to be unregistered.The whole point of one of these devices is that if activated, the Coastguard know who is in trouble.Thankfully some detective work with the manufacturer finally located a grateful owner.

HM Coastguard are the coordinators of all civilian maritime search and rescue around the UK, in other words if someone needs rescuing around the coast and out to sea , its the Coastguard who control the various rescue assets.

One of those "assets" or declared facilities are the Coastguards own Volunteer Teams who depending on where they are in the country are trained in various disciplines.

Those disciplines are Rope, Search, Water Rescue and Mud and each of those disciplines have different levels , awareness, operator, technician.
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Dry Practise using a mud stretcher

Swanage has been a Rope, Search and Water Rescue team , with a mixture of skill levels. Yesterday four of the team qualified as mud technicians.

The equipment (both stretchers) towed out to a person trapped

The mud rescue equipment is currently based in Poole , so anyone travelling along the holes bay road on Saturday will have seen us parked up on exercise.

Mud is a very different rescue skill and extremely physical - try walking with two small children attached to your legs for 4 hours and that should give you an idea of what working in mud is like.

Mud can also be quite toxic. Please don't try this at home, the rescuers wear dry suits, Floatation Jackets, gloves and "Mudders" special foot wear.

After the various training exercises just getting back ashore caused a problem , look at the mud !!

Don't try this at home , The rescuers wear special footwear to stop them sinking.

Once the tide came in , it was back to the station for 2.5 hours of cleaning ! Again safety to ensure that mud isn't ingested

Some more of the team will be assessed in a couple of weeks which will increase the teams capability

Saturday, 12 November 2016

The Coastguard team were requested to assist South Western Ambulance north of Sheps Hollow.

A para gliders canopy had collapsed as he approached the beach causing a crash landing on the cliff face.

Ambulance staff were concerned the male had a spinal injury so requested assistance. The Air Ambulance arrived and landed on the beach allowing the Doctor to assess the male. Rescue 104 had been tasked due to the winch capability and arrived on scene shortly after.

Swanage RNLI ILB was requested by the Station Officer as the tide was coming in and there was a risk the rescue teams being cut off. The lifeboat was used to moved some ambulance staff up the beach.

The male was airlifted and flown for treatment at Dorchester Hospital.

Monday, 7 November 2016

Just as the team were packing up following an incident at Knoll Beach last week, we were approached by a local photographer who'd shot a few photographs that he thought we might like to see. They really capture the power and drama of the rescue helicopter and we thought we'd share a few here.

Our thanks to Jamie Rose of JDR Pictures; it was nice chatting to you and we hope you enjoyed the change in subject matter!

Saturday, 5 November 2016

In our second training session of the week, the team learned the 'theory' being mud rescue, with a 'practical' to follow next week.

All Coastguard Rescue teams are trained in First Aid, Search and Water Rescue techniques. In addition, and depending on their location, some are also trained in rope rescue (cliffs) or in mud rescue.

With the northern part of our boundary being along the shoreline of Poole Harbour, it's been decided that we ought to have a mud rescue capability too, and so this session was the first in that process.

Below we see Allan our SCOO, explaining how the lance pushes water and air underneath a stuck person to loosen the mud around them and free them. Ian tries it out in the station and then, with the water jetting, he gives it a go outdoors. Next time it'll be in the mud!

Friday, 4 November 2016

The team were busy yesterday along with Dorset Police, Swanage Inshore Lifeboat and Rescue 106 Helicopter in locating and then recovering a male from the base of the cliff at Old Harry.

Whilst the team observed from the cliff top and kept onlookers away from the edge, the police launch and lifeboat moved in to recover the individual and assess his condition. Rescue 106 carries a paramedic winchman and although there was initially a thought to lower him onto one of the boats to attend to the casualty, it was decided to take the man by boat to Studland beach where the helicopter landed alongside.

After a thorough assessment by the winchman the male was airlifted to Poole hospital and the volunteers returned to the station for a debrief; a good example of multi agency working and another successful operation.

Thursday, 3 November 2016

Sailing on a yacht, cruising on a motorboat or paddling on a kayak: a day out on the water can be one of the best ways of spending time outdoors. But having the correct communication device is essential, and more important than having the equipment on board is having the knowledge and ability to use it. Training courses are readily available at organisations like the RYA. Make sure you learn the basics of radio operation, which button should I press? What radio frequencies (channels) to use? You should also familiarise yourself with the distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures.

And while it may sound a bit obvious, you’d be surprised how many people don’t do this. So our final advice to you is to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return and update them if your plans change.

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Some shots from our training earlier in the week.
Rob, the Weymouth area SCOO, is fitting a collar to Duncan whilst Eric seems slightly reluctant to lay down to be put into the recovery position. Perhaps he has seen the fate of the dummy lying on the ground next to him.

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Whilst many families were out trick or treating last night, the Coastguard Volunteers were on station watching some horror videos of their own, with a selection of the Co-Op's Halloween sweets and cakes for company. We saw plenty of 'blood and guts' to last us until next year's Halloween (well not guts to be fair, but plenty of cuts, lacerations, abrasions, breaks and bones) and the good news is that, as a result, we are now all requalified in our First Aid training.

However, along the coast in Selsey, our colleagues celebrated Halloween with this creation which we thought deserved a mention. Well done chaps - gives us some ideas for next year!!

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